U.S. History I C.P.
Course Syllabus 2007-2008
Mr.
DiTomaso
ditomaso@Norwellschools.org
781-659-8810 EXT 4221
http://www.quia.com/pages/mrditomaso.html
The mission statement of
Norwell High School is to provide an engaging, supportive
environment where students strive for excellence, practice
respect, and contribute to society.
Integrity
Learning Respect Responsibility
NHS
student expectations for learning:
§
Effective
Readers
§
Effective
Listeners
§
Effective
Writers
Course Description:
The United States History course is designed to introduce
students to the analytical skills and factual knowledge
necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in
United States History. Students will begin to learn to assess
historical materials and to weigh the evidence and
interpretations presented in historical scholarship. Students
are expected to complete a research paper, as well as prepare
for the Social Studies MCAS exam at the end of their junior
year. The course will begin with the era of European “Discovery”
and move through the Civil War Era.
Units
of Instruction:
(Note that these do not correspond exactly to textbook units.)
I
Pre-Columbian Societies/Trans-Atlantic
Encounters/Colonial Beginnings- chapters 1-2
II
Colonial North America- chapter 3
III
The American Revolutionary Era- chapter 4
IV
Creating the Constitution- chapter 5
V
The Early Republic- chapter 6
VI
Transformation of the Economy and Society in Antebellum
America- chapter 7
VII
Transformation of Politics in Antebellum America- chapter
7
VIII
Religion, Reform, and Renaissance in Antebellum America-
chapter 8
IX
Territorial Expansion and Manifest Destiny- chapter 9
X
The Union in Crisis- chapter 10
XI
The Civil War (1861-1865) chapter 11
XII
Reconstruction (1865-1877) chapter 12 anyalisis
Course Requirements and Grading:
§
You will be
responsible to keep an interactive student notebook
(more info to follow) for notes, handouts, and homework
assignments. If you are absent it is up to you to get the class
notes from one of your classmates. This notebook will be
assessed by frequent open notebook quizzes, will be turned in
to me once a term, and will be worth 10% of your grade--
keep it up to date!
§
You will also have
written homework three or four times per week, which will
be done in the notebook. If you are absent the day an
assignment is due you must turn it in by the next class. It is
also up to you to contact a classmate on the days you are absent
to find out about any assigned work. Late assignments will be
penalized.
§
We will usually
have a test at the end of each major unit. Tests will be
composed of open response questions, short answer questions, and
multiple choice. Small projects may be assigned at the
end of each unit instead of tests.
§
Frequent “pop”
quizzes will be given to assess your understanding of the
content
§
You will be
assigned two major research projects during the year.
§
Grading Policy-
o
Tests
will be worth 60% of your grade.
o
Quizzes
will be worth 25% of your grade.
o
Homework
assignments will be worth 5% of your grade.
o
Notebook
check will be worth 10% of your grade.
o
Participation
is a must, and can affect your grade
§
Extra credit is
not available unless it is available to the entire class.
§
A penalty of one
letter grade per day will be applied to late papers and
projects.
§
Cheating of any
kind will result in a zero, a referral to the office, and a
phone call home.
§
There will be a
final exam
Classroom Atmosphere
The
behavior and participation of each person will shape the type of
learning that will occur. We will all be responsible for
classroom management. We will be discussing many different
topics, so please keep in mind that everyone is entitled to his
or her opinion- for this, acceptance and mutual respect is
essential.
§
Be on time,
prepared, and ready to work at the beginning of class.
§
Please raise your
hand when you wish to speak and wait to be called on.
§
When the teacher
or a fellow classmate is talking everyone must listen. That
means looking at the person who is talking, and truly paying
attention to what they have to say.
§
Always treat
others with respect. Teasing, chastising, or bullying in any
way will not be tolerated.
§
The bell does not
dismiss you, the teacher does.
§
All school
furniture must be respected. Vandalism will not be tolerated.
Before you will be dismissed your area must be neat, your table
straight, and your seat pushed in.
§
No chair tipping!
§
You do not have to
ask to go to the bathroom, however no more than one student may
be out at a time. You must sign out, bring the pass, and sign
back in. This privilege may be revoked if it becomes a
problem.
§
Food is not
permitted in the classroom. You may bring a drink to class as
long as it has a cover. This privilege can be revoked if it
becomes a problem.
Materials
§
Textbook-
Lapsansky-Warner, Emma J., Et. Al. United States History
Boston, MA. Prentice Hall, 2008
·
(This book must
have a book cover)
§
One single
subject, college ruled, 11in. x 8.5in., (or larger) one hundred
page (or more) spiral bound, notebook.
·
(not for use in
any other class)
§
Glue sticks
§
Pen and Pencil
§
Highlighters
§
Colored Pencils
**All
materials should be brought to every class.
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